The Ultimate Resolution! [KOT'17]
Johnny Kidd blog, 8.18.2017
I have seen the video message by your Director of Fun, and my personal friend, Mike Quackenbush, about finding closure to something we had tried to end last May in Manchester. I was truly honoured that after not wrestling for three years Mike decided he would grant me my wish - to have my final bout in a thirty-eight-year wrestling career with his good self. From meeting Mike in Essen (Germany) a few years ago we have always remained good friends and even had a friendly rivalry throughout the years. I respect this man for all he has done and achieved in this great sport of Professional Wrestling and I relish the opportunities I have had to actually lock up and wrestle him. I class the matches I have had with Mike as some of my finest because as a wrestling technician he is second to none. Technical wrestling has always been my game too, but I have seen things this man can do in the wrestling ring which look so effortless. So for me now, it has been nearly sixteen months since I last laced up a pair of wrestling boots, but to have an opportunity to face The Master of A Thousand Holds again is an opportunity I cannot simply pass up.
So yes Mike, I'll be ready to face you. This time, let the best man win.
See you in Wolverhampton...Regards as always, -JK
Time for another King of Trios update! Last week, the entire first round of the tournament was confirmed, and this week we got some news about some of the non-tournament action taking place Nights 2 and 3.
Last Monday night, CHIKARA’s official YouTube channel released a passionate promo from Mike Quackenbush challenging Johnny Kidd to one more match on Night 2. When the two met in a World of Sport rules bout last May at “Aniversario: The Chamber of Secrets”, both expected to leave the match hoping to break their career tie. The match ended in a draw with each man taking a fall a piece in the six rounds. While dissatisifed, Quackenbush respected Kidd’s wishes to remain retired, until he saw Kidd lead a training session at the Wrestle Factory and knew he still had one match left in him. Kidd accepted the challenge, and on Night 2 of King of Trios, Quackenbush and Kidd will compete in a World of Sport Rules contest. Instead of it being first to two falls wins, this match will be one fall to a finish to ensure a winner.
We’ve known for months now the Rey de Voladores tournament would be returning, but I’ve yet to touch on it here. The Whisper was the first participant announced. The Whisper made it to the finals of the Young Lions Cup tournament in February, only to lose to Space Monkey. He was also the runner up in the Infinite Gauntlet in May, only to lose to Solo Darling. The Whisper is certain the third time is the charm and that he’ll leave Wolverhampton the Rey de Voladores. Joining him in the tournament are Red Eagle, Jr., a top prospect from Portugal, and Chuck Mambo, who has made waves in the UK wrestling scene, namely PROGRESS.
Finally, the annual Tag Team Gauntlet was officially announced for Night 3. The first time named is current Campeones de Parejas Los Ice Creams! While most teams enter the gauntlet looking to earn a title opportunity, this is Los Ice Creams chance to block teams from earning points.
Below is the entire King of Trios weekend as we know it:
King of Trios 2017, Night 1 - September 1st, 2017 - Wolverhampton, England
1. King of Trios Opening Round Match: House Rot (Hallowicked, Frightmare & Kobald) vs. House Bodyslam! (Michael Fynne, Vasyl, & Emeritus)
2. King of Trios Opening Round Match: House Strong Style (Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate, & Trent Seven) vs. House Whitewolf (A-Kid, Adam Chase, & Zayas)
3. King of Trios Opening Round Match: House Sport (James Mason, Mal Sanders, & Danny Boy Collins) vs. Casa Dorada (Juan Francisco de Coronado, Sonny Defarge, & Cornelius Crummels)
4. King of Trios Opening Round Match: House SENDAI Girls (Meiko Satomura, DASH Chisako, & Cassandra Miyagi) vs. House Xyberhawx ( Sylverhawk, Razerhawk, & Nytehawk)
5. King of Trios Opening Round Match: House Revival (Jody Fleisch, Jonny Storm, & Johnny Moss) vs. House Seven Seas (Merlok, Hermit Crab, & Cajun Crawdad)
6. King of Trios Opening Round Match: House Throwback (Dasher Hatfield, Mark Angelosetti, & Simon Grimm) vs. House Attack (Deputy Damian Dunne, Jim Obstruction, & Lee Obstruction)
7. King of Trios Opening Round Match: House Bike Cops (Officer Warren Barksdale, Jasper Tippins, & Donald Kluger) vs. House Calamari (Chris Brookes, Kid Lykos, & ELIJAH)
8. King of Trios Opening Round Match: House Furies (Fire Ant, Solo Darling, & Travis Huckabee) vs. House Fight Club (Millie Mckenzie, Kyle Fletcher, & Omari)
King of Trios 2017, Night 2 - September 2nd, 2017 - Wolverhampton, England
1. King of Trios Quarter-Final Round Match #1
2. King of Trios Quarter-Final Round Match #2
3. King of Trios Quarter-Final Round Match #3
4. King of Trios Quarter-Final Round Match #4
5. Rey de Voladores Semi-Final Round 4 Way Elimination Match #1
6. Rey de Voladores Semi-Final Round 4 Way Elimination Match #2
7. World of Sport Rules Singles Match
Rey de Voladores Participants: The Whisper, Red Eagle, Jr., Chuck Mambo
King of Trios 2017, Night 3 - September 3rd, 2017 - Wolverhampton, England
1. King of Trios Semi-Final Round Match #1
2. King of Trios Semi-Final Round Match #2
3. 10 Team Tag Team Gauntlet: Los Ice Creams (El Hijo del Ice Cream & Ice Cream Jr.)
4. Rey de Voladores Final Round Match
5. King of Trios Final Round Match
CHIKARA’s Mike Quackenbush and Bryce Remsburg discuss “Chikarasaurus Rex”, minor league baseball, World of Sport wrestling, entrance theme songs and a whole bunch more.
Dear John - a message from Mike Quackenbush to Johnny Kidd.
Special Update: Johnny Kidd Invitational is this Sunday!
Johnny Kidd Invitational on June 18!
Clayton and Mike talk Manchester & Glasgow, Good Times! by the Monkees, the perils of small business ownership, current superhero movie fare & more.
Inside the Squared Circle: Johnny Kidd vs. Mike Quackenbush
Clayton and Mike discuss Johnny Kidd and British Wrestling, The Panama Papers, more Batman v Superman, Rogue One, Civil War & more.
April 6, 2013. Mike Quackenbush teamed with Jushin “Thunder” Liger to take on Jigsaw & The Shard at “The Shoulder of Pallas” during the first Wrestlecon weekend. Although Liger and Quackenbush were victorious, a collision during the match in which Mike Quackenbush’s knees collided with the guardrails ended his career as an active in-ring competitor. He was appointed Director of Fun by Robbie Ellis, who had purchased CHIKARA after the Titor Conglomerate sold it off at the end of 2013. Mike Quackenbush was happy to resign himself to his role as Director of Fun and trainer at the CHIKARA Wrestle Factory.
That all changed on March 20th, when British wrestling icon Johnny Kidd announced his retirement and his wishes for his final opponent to be against Mike Quackenbush himself. The two men have only met twice before: once in 2009 in wXw where Kidd bested Quackenbush in a World of Sport rules bout, and again in CHIKARA in 2011 where Quackenbush and Johnny Saint defeated Kidd and Colt Cabana at “Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Sequel, Night 2.” Kidd wants to settle the score, forever, with a tie-breaker.
Mike Quackenbush posted a blog in response, stating that while the heart was willing, his body may not be up to the task. He was concerned that a doctor may not clear him given not only his knees, but a wrist that never healed properly and years of back issues. This past weekend at “Phone Home”, Quackenbush delivered good news: after a thorough examination, his doctor gave him the go ahead to wrestle one more match.
The match has been set for May 28th in Manchester, England when CHIKARA takes the UK by storm. Mike Quackenbush will step aside for one night only as Director of Fun (naming Bryce Remsburg the DoF for that evening) and return to the ring for the first time in over 3 years to not only settle the score with Johnny Kidd, but to allow Kidd the retirement which he wants. Once again they will meet in World of Sport Rules. Will Kidd best Quackenbush once more, or can the Master of a Thousand Holds prove that “he’s still got it?”
“Aniversario: The Chamber of Secrets” - Manchester, England - May 28, 2016
1) Johnny Kidd Retirement Match; World of Sport Rules: Johnny Kidd vs. Mike Quackenbush
An emotional response to the challenge of Johnny Kidd
Mike Quackenbush blog, 3.23.2016
I’ve said it a few times now - there are three active professional wrestlers in the world today that, if they asked me to share the ring with them one more time, I would find it almost impossible to refuse.
Who is on that list of three? I’ll offer these clues: One of them is Japanese. One of them is Swiss. One of them is British.
If only life were that simple, though.
It’s been nearly 3 years since Secaucus. My leg got into quite the scuffle with a metal railing that day, and to put it delicately: my leg lost. I have a dissociated lunate bone in my left wrist, which cannot be repaired. When my hand is manipulated a certain way, you can hear the bone “clicking” in my wrist. It feels about as unpleasant as it sounds. And, well, I’m not even going to start on my back.
But…that list. This is Johnny Kidd asking. THE Johnny Kidd. The last practitioner of the classical British style still active to this day. "Mr. Smooth" himself. A man I’ve studied, admired, and even emulated. And it is his retirement match. After that, my list of three becomes a list of two. What can I say?
John, the simple fact is, I may not be able to get medical clearance, even for one more match. So if this goes no further than you asking - thank you. I am honored. I am flattered. I feel humbled by your request. Please know how sincere I am when I say, I would like nothing more than to see Mr. Smooth and the Master of a Thousand Holds tie up one last time. It rings fitting to my ears.
The end of a rivalry. The end of a story. The end of a career.
The spirit is willing.
If… If.
-MQ
Let's settle this. Forever. (Johnny Kidd makes a special challenge for CHIKARA’s UK tour.)